Electric gas-lighting burner



(ModeL) O. H. OROGKETT,

ELEGTRIG GAS LIGHTING BURNER. No. 271,805. Patented-Feb. 6, 1883.

. orifice at the tip of the burner.

UNITED STATES PATENT Erica.

CHARLES El. OROOKETTI, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC GAS-LIGHTING BURNER.

- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 271,805, dated February 6, 1883,

' l Application filed July1,18$0 Renewed August 12, 1882. (Model) the same with the parts in a different position.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same. is a sectional elevation of the same.

' My invention relates to an improvement in that class of electric gas-lighting burners in which the gas is alternately let on and shut off by pulling down a pendent cord or rod connected with suitable mechanism for actuating the gas-cock, and simultaneously producing the electric spark to ignite the gas, by causing the elastic or yielding terminal of a movable Fig. 4

electrode to be wiped past or swept into and out of contact with the ,terminal of a fixed electrode situated in close proximity to the These burners are, however, defective, for the reason that the yielding terminal of the movable electrode is liableespecially when corroded so as to lose its elasticity-to catch against and remain in content-with the fixed electrode, instead of sweeping or wiping past it, as intended, the spring which is relied on to return the mechanism to its original position after being operated by pulling down the cord not always having sufiicient power to separate the electrodes when they have become bent or corroded, as is frequently the case, owing to the heat .and smoke of the gas to which they are exposed; and when the electrodes are thus left in contact after actuating the gas-cock a continuous galvanic current is established, which prevents any other burner in the same circuit from being lighted, and also causes the battery to soon become exhausted or weakened,

necessitating a frequent renewal of the excit-- ing-liquid.

My invention has for its object to overcome these objections and difficulties; and it consists in so constructing and operating the movable or vibrating electrode that it will come into contact with the stationary or fixed electrode when moved in one direction only as the gascock is being opened, it being carried on its return movement past the fixed electrode without coming into contact therewith, whereby all liability of the two electrodes catching together and remaining continuously in contact after the gascock has been operated is entirely avoided, which insures all of the burners in the circuit being always in a condition ready to operate.

In the said drawings, A represents a gasburner near the orifice, at the tip of which is secured the fixed electrode a, which is connected, as usual, with one pole of the battery.

b is the plug, of the gas-cock, to the outer end ofthe stem of which is securely fastened a ratchet, c, and upon this stem, inside the ratchet and between it and the shell d, is loosely pivoted a lever, B, to which is pivoted, at 8, a

pawl, e, which engages with the teeth of the ratchet, and is held down thereon by a spring, f, bearing on its upper side. From the outer end of this lever B depends acord or chain,g, by means of which it can be'vibrated by hand against the resistance of a flat coiled spring, h, by which it is returned to its original position, when the cord is released, a stop-pin, '5, against which strike shoulders on the lever, serving to limit the movement of the latter in either direction, and thus, as .the lever is vibrated,the ratchet is rotated toopen and close the gas-cock asrequired.

To the outer end of the pawl e is securedan arm, O, which forms a movable electrode which is connected through the burner and gas-pipe with the other pole of the battery. The terminal or contact point of this vibrating electrode O is composed, as usual, of a piece of spring-wire, I, having its inner end coiled around the arm and secured in place by means of a rivet, 10, by which means it is rendered sufficiently elastic to enable it to readily pass the fixed electrode a as itis vibratedinto and out of contact therewith by the movement of the arm 0 in the direction of the arrow, which is effected when the leverB is actuated by pulling down the cord g. On thereturninovement of the lever B the end 12 of the pawl ewillride up over .the next tooth of the ratchet, which is held stationary by the friction of the valve plug 12 in its seat, this tooth thus acting as a cam to cause the vibrating electrode or arm 0 to be raised, as seen in Fig. 2, sufficiently to carry the terminal or contact point 1 over and entirely clear of the fixed electrode a, so as to effectually prevent any contact between the two electrodes on the return movement of the arm 0 after the gas has been either let on or shut off, no spark being required at this time, as the gas is lighted by the spark produced on the first or forward movement of the arm 0, which occurs simultaneously with the letting ,on of the gas. As soon as the contact-point I 1 will strike the fixed electrode a to make and break contact therewith, and thus produce the spark to ignite the'gas as required. It will thus be seen thatnocontact whatever between the electrodes occurs on the return movement of the mechanism which actuates the gas-cock, and consequently even it' the electrodes should become badly corroded or bent they cannot catch and remain in contact with each other under any circumstances w hatever, the establishment of a continuous galvanic current and the objections incident thereto previously referred to being by this means entirely'avoided.

Instead of the movable arm 0 being raised, as described, it may be merely vibrated, and the wirel raised or moved independently of the arm by extendingit down alongside thereof and operating it by suitable mechanism brought into action on the return movement of the arm 0, and in lieu of employing the teeth of the ratchet'c as cams to actuate the vibrating electrode to cause it to clear or avoid contact with the fixed electrode, it is evident that an independent cam or other suitable device located in a proper position may be used for this purpose without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is-- 1. In an electric gas-lighting burner, the combination,witl1 the fixed electrode a, of a movable or vibrating electrode, 0, provided with an elastic or yielding contact-point adapted to be actuated on its return movement in such a manner as to clear oravoidcontactwith the fixed electrode as it passes the latter, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an electric gas-lightin g burner, the combination, with the fixed electrode a, of a movableele'ctrode, 0, provided with an elastic or yielding contact-point, l, and means for raising the movable electrode on its returnstroke to 'cause'it to clear or avoid contact with the fixed electrode a, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In an electric gas-lighting burner, the

oH-As. HJoRooKE-T'r.

1n presence of- 'P. E. 'rnscanaxc'aaa, W.-J. CAMBRI GE. 

